Non-Profit Management Gets New Site, New Curriculum for the New Year

The Non-Profit Management Certificate program through UNLV Continuing Education is revising its curriculum and moving its classes to a new location at Las Vegas’ Historic Fifth Street School starting in January.

Both changes were conceived to bring the program into closer alignment with the Non-Profit Management graduate certificate offered through the UNLV College of Urban Affairs’ School of Environmental and Public Affairs. Students in both programs either already work together at area non-profits, or likely will work together in some capacity in the future. Yet previously the two programs functioned independently of one another.

Program Coordinator Amanda Cox recently explained that by bringing the two programs into closer physical proximity at Historic Fifth Street School, participants in both programs will have more opportunities to engage in meaningful dialogue about issues affecting Southern Nevada’s non-profit community. Supportive professional networks are central to the success of these organizations. The connections students make through their course work are essential on the job, whether it is knowing where to refer a client, or who to call with a fundraising question.

The new curriculum for Continuing Education’s Non-Profit Management Certificate was assembled by a panel of non-profit professionals led by Dr. Becky Day-Swain. Among the represented agencies were Nevada Grant Professionals Association, Alliance for Nevada Nonprofits, Young Nonprofit Professionals Network of Southern Nevada, United Way, Three Square, UNLV Continuing Education, and College of Southern Nevada. Instructors for the program all work in the local non-profit community. Most have either master’s or doctorate degrees in their field plus extensive applied experience.

Certificate candidates will take four core classes plus eight one-day elective courses. The core classes offer a foundation of knowledge that every non-profit professional should know, no matter what position he/she holds. Electives offer a chance to specialize in an area of interest such as finance, programming, or marketing.